The OutcastThe Netflix description of this episode sounds intriguing. Riker falling for a member of an androgynous race? I'm now expecting him to be strawberry floating Ziggy Stardust in the next 30 minutes.
I wasn't too far off.
Interesting that 30 years ago there was an episode like this that discussed non-binary people and respecting people not wanting to fit male/female pronouns. And desperately sad that we still haven't grown up enough to just respect other peoples differences. Worf for the early part of the episode would fit in well on GB News.
As an episode though? The message had good intentions I think, but it was very clumsily done. The genderless society has to force people to conform, going so far as conversion therapy! I get that it's a flipped version of our society (we haven't moved far from 1992!) but it would have been better for them to be more open about everything and to show prejudices in humans (and Klingons
). As it was it, unintentionally I'm sure, felt like Fox News screaming "IF THEY GET THEIR WAY, THEY'LL FORCE OUR KIDS TO BE TRANS!!!"
I guess that's a modern read on it, Wikipedia suggests it was more an allegory of gay rights rather than trans rights. Interesting as well that Frakes didn't think they went far enough. And he's right, it's a brave episode for early 90s American TV, but they should have really gone for it. But, strawberry float, it'd probably still be brave for early evening network American TV today.
It's a little weird that there are no trans or non binary people in the 24th century, Riker (at least early on ) seemed very confused about people being genderless.
Oh and Jordi's beard? Give it up mate, you can't compete with Riker on facial hair.
Cause and EffectGroundhog Day in space but before Groundhog Day was released.
I love a timeloop story and this was a bloody good one. My usual "rushed ending!" moan applies, but I really liked this episode. Great stuff.
The First DutyThe pre credits scene got my hopes up.
I hesitate to admit this.....but Wesley was good in this episode.
It wasn't a classic or anywhere near top tier, but it was a solid enough story. Kids being twats isn't original, but is certainly accurate.
Cost of LivingI've not watched it yet, but from the title I am imagining this episode is a damning polemic against the Tory government and their vile refusal to help during the current hike in fuel and energy prices.
Just starting to watch and had to pause to laugh. Trek does this a lot, they have "30 seconds!!" until something bad happens but a character will then spend 20 of those seconds speaking some technobabble.
"Everyone is going to die in 30 seconds!"
"Ok, prepare a tachyon field hyper loop plasma shield and send it over to the 57th quadrant to dampen the gamma radiation fields, couple it with a neutrino flow of negative ions with a complementary burst of metallic particles with a reversed polarity to capture the high energy blast of...."
"Sir, they all died 20 minutes ago...."
strawberry floats sake, a Wesley episode followed by a Troi's mother episode? Why does TNG hate me so much?
Anyway, Wesley was decent in the previous episode so maybe she'll surprise me.
Dreadful episode. Troi's mum iterates the gooseberry fool out of me and Worf's son was just as bloody annoying. And then the awful am-dram style annoying as strawberry float juggling banana split on the holodeck.
The only slight redemption to the episode was Worf pulled some great irritated faces.
strawberry float off TNG, you are better than this steaming lump of gooseberry fool.
The Perfect MateFamke Janssen
Ferengi
Not terrible but just a bit dull. It would have been more entertaining if she just wandered around the ship causing chaos.
Odd to think the Federation is basically happy with trafficking a sex slave. But it's ok, she wants it.
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Re-reading my reviews, I watched Cost of Living a long time ago. I never guessed at the time that energy would get even more expensive
And my god that was a bad episode, it's made me angry all over again thinking about the juggling banana split.